Locking device for crane hooks



Feb. 23, 1937. K. CLODFELTER LOCKING DEVICE FOR CRANE nooxs Filed April11, 1936 IIIIII II .I

UNITED STATES FATE OFFICE LOCKING DEVICE FOR CRANE HOOKS KarlClodfeltcr, Blue Island, 111.

Application April 11, 1936, Serial No. 73,927

4 Claims.

My invention relates to the art of handling materials by a crane andparticularly to a safety device adapted to look a crane hook againstrotation when used for supporting a lifting magnet.

A magnet is used for handling materials of a certain type, the magnetbeing attached by a ring to the crane hook. There is, however, a

tendency for the magnet and its load to rotate while the load is beingtransported and such rotation will frequently be continued to such anextent that the conducting wires will be twisted off,

thus de-energizing the magnet and dropping the load. This is a matter ofconsiderable danger and, of course, could be avoided by constructing thecrane hook and block in such manner that rotation would not be permitted. This, however,

would render the apparatus useless for other purposes for which thecrane is used in which rotation is desirable.

The device of my invention is intended to adapt the hook for both uses,the hook being locked when a magnet is supported thereon and free torotate in other uses.

The invention will be more readily understood by reference to myaccompanying drawing; in

Which,

Fig. 1 is an elevation of a crane hook and block with a lifting magnetdepending therefrom.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the block and hook with my improvement appliedthereto;

Fig. 3 is an end view thereof;

and,

Fig. 4 is a side elevation partly in section. In Fig. 1 a conventionalconstruction is shown including plates l2, a hook block 15 andconnecting cable has a portion l3, hook wire ropes lil, sheaves ll,supporting l4, lifting magnet [6. The hook shank I4 I! of reduceddiameter at its upper end projecting through the hook block l3 andterminating in a threaded portion carrying a hexagon nut A Washer I80,may be interpose l8 which is pinned to the shank.

d between the nut and the hook block. This construction permits the hookto rotate freely in the block. My construction includes a plate IS inthe form of a saddle, the plate having side flanges 29, shown in theinstance as separately formed and joined to the plate by rivets, 2|, theflan the contour of the hook block the saddle closely thereon.

pieces 23 at the two ends of the ges conforming to and serving to fitBolts 22 and crossstructure serve to ders the opening. Seated in disc25, having a marginal flan the opening is a ge 26, that underlies flange24, of the plate. A second disc 21, overlies the plate and is secured tothe first disc by rivets 28. Both discs are provided with a hexagonalopening nicely fitting the nut l8. Both the flanges of the discs and theplate are provided with a plurality of registering apertures 29, locatedat different angular points, as shown, and when it is desired to use thecrane hook in connection with a lifting magnet one or more pins 30 areinserted in the openings as shown in Fig. 4, thus securely locking thehook and block against relative rotation. The pins may be carried on achain, not shown, in order to be readily available for use when needed.

It will be seen that with my device in place, the crane may be operatedin its usual manner and the hook permitted to rotate freely. When,however, a magnet is to be supported one or more of the pins is slippedinto place, thereby locking the parts against relative rotation. Thedevice is so constructed that it may be quickly and easily applied toexisting crane blocks with very short interruption of operations.

I claim:

1. The combination with a hook block, of a saddle fitted thereover andclamped thereto, a disc having an annular flange underlying a portion ofsaid saddle, said disc having a noncircular axial opening, a hook shankhaving a head portion fixed thereon and shaped to fit said axialopening, said saddle and flange having registering openings, and a pinadapted to enter said openings toprevent relative rotation between saidhook and block.

2. In combination, a hook block and a hook shank projecting through theblock and a nut fixed on the shank, a saddle overlying said block andclamped thereto, said saddle having a central opening, a disc in saidopening with its periphery underlying a portion of said saddle, saiddisc having a central opening shaped to receive the hook nut, said discand saddle having registering openings, and a pin adapted to enter saidopenings and when in place to prevent relative rotation between hook andblock.

3. In combination, a hook block and a ,hook shank projecting through theblock and a nut fixed on the shank, a saddle overlying said block andclamped thereto, said saddle having a central opening, a disc in saidopening with its periphery underlying an integral flange that borderssaid central opening in the saddle, said disc having a central openingshaped to receive the hook nut, said disc and saddle having registeringopenings, and a pin adapted to enter said opening a non-round aperturefitting the hook fastening element, said disc underlying a portion ofthe I plate with capacity for rotation, said plate and disc havingregistering openings, and a pin adapted to enter said openings toprevent relative rotation between hook and block.

KARL CLODFEL'IER.

